Tolkien’s 1936 lecture on Beowulf challenged the dominant scholarly view of the poem as merely a historical artifact. He argued that its true essence lies in its story—a heroic tale of men, monsters, and dragons. While acknowledging its historical value, he warned against reducing it to that alone, emphasizing its power as a crafted work of art. For Tolkien, Beowulf was meant to captivate and inspire, not just inform. As we explore his insights further, we are reminded that a story is more than an artifact—it is an experience.

The Cotton Vitellius A XV is a 10th-century manuscript containing Beowulf, the epic cornerstone of English literature, along with other Old English texts. Once part of Sir Robert Cotton’s library, it narrowly survived a devastating fire in 1731. Preserved in the British Library today, it offers a rare glimpse into Anglo-Saxon culture and storytelling. Without it, the legendary tale of Beowulf might have been lost to history.

William Morris’s 1895 translation of Beowulf, The Tale of Beowulf, is a richly poetic yet controversial rendering of the Old English epic. A collaboration with A.J. Wyatt, it blends Morris’s Romantic medievalism with Wyatt’s linguistic expertise. While praised for its ambition, its archaic language makes it a challenging read. Despite mixed reception, it played a key role in popularizing Beowulf in the late 19th century.

Welcome to the first entry in what I hope will become a weekly series. Here, I’ll take you through my fitness journey: what I’ve done, what I’m doing, and where I’m headed. Fair warning—I’m no expert, just someone trying to get stronger while navigating the chaos of the gym.

We're told that we should niche down to find a single topic to talk about. And that one thing should be the only thing we talk about. Don't cross-pollinate. Because if there is something else you want to talk about, you shouldn't do that in the same space. So, create another account.

“Hwæt! We Gar-Dena in gear-dagum, þeod-cyninga, þrym gefrunon, hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon!”

That brings us to now. I have been recently reading books while also listening to them via Audible. This, just works for me, as I can get through lots of books in a shorter space of time.